Kazumi Tanaka

Shelter, 1996

15' x 5' x 25'

Socrates Sculpture Park has been a sanctuary for us since its inception. It has provided us, as artists, with the opportunity to create work which would be unthinkable in a gallery or within the congestion of Manhattan. We have felt encouraged, as young artists, to explore what would otherwise be impossible. It provides us also, and maybe more importantly, with a sense of community, having either created a piece there or even just visited you feel embraced. The Park reaches beyond the insulate world of art. It is democratic. There is no art that cannot be touched or climbed. It has a blue collar grit. It is like a really good diner just off the highway. There is a familiarity betwen all who know of it. There is a sense that "it is mine". Our sculpture Shelter addresses similar issues. It provides a roof overhead, drawing together a community seeking sanctuary from the sun and rain.
Exhibition: 50 NY 93